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Q: If you are interested in serving on a planning committee for such a gathering please provide your contact information? A: Earlier I attended a number of interfaith environmental gathering, including (I think) earliest incarnations of interfaither partners for the chesapeake (I vague remember meeting in Annapolis). But I am not a member of a congregation. I wish I could be. I’ve tried Jewish, Unitarian-Universalist, Friends (Quaker), Ethical Humanist congregations. Just can’t connect. I realize faith/faith communities (emphasis on communities) are critical for my personal health and acting and achieving many larger goals. But it doesn’t work — nor do other spiritual groups, e.g. Transcendental Meditation. So I’ve stopped attending gathering, as individual-without-congregation I feel completely out of the loop. If you think you can help me find faith through my deep-felt concern about the environment, please contact me. But please realize that I don’t think Jesus, the Maharishi, or other great teachers will lead me to faith. Sorry to put this here, but I know surveys seldom give you ability to address what really concerns you. Since atheism is apparently on the rise in U.S., this issue must be shared by others. Yes, I have been very active in Sierra Club, less active other groups. But now I think all those efforts hopeless until we can reduce power of big money to control decisions that affect all of us and pollute our watershed: fracking and other energy, agriculture, chemical companies, drug companies. I wish I knew how any groups, faith or otherwise, could conquer deep divide in our country between Blue and Red, growing income/power inequality, etc. I am heartened by protests against race and police power, but doubt that will lead to protests/discussion much less changes re larger issues, in face of Citizen’s United, McCutcheon, etc. Helen Keller said each individual must do what s/he can; Margaret Mead said that everything starts with a small group of dedicated individuals; but I’ve gone from optimism to pessimism to cynicism. Please persuade me. As a friend just told me — “think about how you can do something, not about why you can’t.” I’d love to help with e.g. scientific education of youngsters (and those not so young); not very good at organizing myself, much less others. No nothing about fundraising. Have worked in phone banks (doubt utility) and knocking on doors (doubt utility and no longer physically able to). Though somehow Sierra Club did help get candidate — Rep. Donna Edwards — elected — only to have her immediately support pro-development person for Montgomery County Council. That and losing battle vs environmental disastrous Inter-County Connector, now underused and about to cost taxpayers even more money (see recent W Post article). If you think you can “save” me, please try.